LGBT Rights Movement

By 1019230

  • Kinsey's Research on Men Published

    Alfred Kinsey publishes "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male", with his research indicating that more than half of the male population have been excited by other men.

  • McCarthyism

    McCarthyism begins, firing thousands of homosexuals.

  • Mattachine Society Forned

    The famous gay rights organization is formed on the University of Southern California campus.

  • McCarran-Walters Act

    "Sexual deviants" barred from entering the United States.

  • McCarthyism Ends

    McCarthyism ends.

  • Illinois Legalizes Homosexual Sex

    Illionois is the first state to decriminalize consentual, private sex between homosexuals.

  • First White House Protest

    The New York Mattachine Society leads the first protest in front of the White House. The ten protestors got national te;levision coverage.

  • First Complete Sex Change

    John Money performed the first full male-to-female sex-change operation in the US.

  • Stonewall Riots

    New York City police raid the Stonwall Inn. The bar's patrons, including gays, lesbians, and transvestites, violently resist.

  • Connecticut and Idaho Repeal Anti-Sodomy Laws

    Connecticut successfully repealed the laws, but Idaho was forced to reinstate them after pressure from conservative and religious leaders.

  • Homosexuality Removed from list of Mental Disorders

    American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.

  • National Gay Task Force Established

    The National Gay Task Force, later renamed the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is begun in the state of New York.

  • Antigay Discrimination Banned

    California's Santa Cruz County becomes the first in the nation to ban antigay discrimination.

  • Rainbow Flag

    Gilbert Baker designs the symbol of the gay rights movement, the rainbow flag.

  • Texas Antisodomy Law Ruled Unconstitutional

  • Wisconsin Passes Gay Rights Legislation

    Wisconsin becomes the first state to pass a law allowing gay rights.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The ADA very specifically bans AIDS-based discrimination.

  • Two Men Arrested

    Two gay men are sentenced to five years in prison in Michigan for having sex in a public park. Way to go guys, you're really helping.

  • Don't Ask, Don't Tell

    After President Clinton's election into office, he looks into overturning the ban on gays in the military. Opposition from Republican Congressmen and religious groups force him to settle for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

  • Defense of Marriage Act

    President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, stating that marriage is the union between a 'man' and a 'woman'. However, no law at any level defines a man or woman.

  • California Creates Statewide Domestic Partnership Ordinance

    California creates a registry for same-sex couples which at first granted only hospital visitation rights. Further benefits were added over the next eight years.

  • Civil Unions instated

    Vermont establishes a separate equivalent to marriages for same-sex couples.

  • The 700 Club Blames Gays For 9/11

    Rev Jerry Faldwell, one of the hosts of The 700 Club, blames gays lesbians, and others for the September 11 attacks while Pat Robertson nods in agreement. There is massive outcry from both ends of the political and activist spectra.

  • Supreme Court Deems all Sodomy Laws Unconstitutional

  • Same-Sex Marriage Legalized

    Massachusetts legalizes marriage between couples of the same sex, where only 'civil unions' were allowed previously.